Graduate F.A.Q.

What are the admission requirements to the MS in Computer Science?
To be admitted to the program, an applicant should generally have a "B" average
or 3.0/4.0 GPA from their undergraduate institution. The GRE general test is required except for
undergraduate students in our five year accelerated MS program. There are no specific
GRE score minimum requirements. However, we look
at students individually and consider all factors in making admissions decisions.
Industry experience is also considered.

Will applicants without an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, or with an
equivalent background, be considered for admissions?
We accept applicants who have a minimal background in Computer Science. Such
candidates will be required to take several remedial courses in Computer Science in
addition to the normal course requirements.

Can I have the TOEFL or GRE exam waived?
The TOEFL can be waived for international students who have completed 2 years of
study in the US. The GRE is generally only waived for Fordham accelerated students,
although in exceptional cases it may be possible to waive this exam.

How do I apply to the MS program in Computer Science?
See the Fordham admissions page,
which has information and an online application for the Graduate School of Arts &
Sciences.
The application will provide details regarding any necessary information that is required.

When is the application deadline for the MS program?
The Computer Science MS program has rolling admissions. However, applicants
are recommended to submit their applications as soon as possible. The deadline for applications
for admission with financial aid for the Fall semester of each year is early January.

What kind of financial aid is available?
Financial aid is available in the form of a Graduate Assistantships, which offer a
tuition waiver and stipend. In return the student is expected to work approximately
17 hours per week for the University. There are also several other forms of financial
aid available, such as a Distinguished Fellowship, which provides the tuition waiver
and stipend without any work requirement. Individual faculty may also have research
funds that can be used to support graduate students. All of these assistantships
are highly competitive. Admitted students can also often find support from the
department by working as a teaching or lab assistant for an hourly wage.

What are the graduation requirements for the MS in Computer Science?
Students generally take 10 CS graduate courses or 8 CS graduate courses and a MS
thesis. Those without a traditional undergraduate CS background will typically take 3
additional course.

How long does it typically take to graduate and is part-time study available?
A full-time student typically finishes the degree in two to three semesters. But we
have many part-time students who work in New York City and study part-time; such
students typically take 2 courses a semester and finish in 2-3 years. Our graduate
courses are all offered in the evening and meet only once per week. The majority of
our graduate courses are offered at our Lincoln Center campus. The detailed course
requirements can be found online.

Do you offer online courses?
We do not currently offer any online courses. We believe in providing
face-to-face instruction to our students. Our Lincoln Center locatiion
combined with our evening courses make the MS degree quite convenient
for most of our students.

When students graduate with an MS in Computer Science, where do they go?
The majority of our students work in New York City after graduation. There is a vast
array of jobs in Computer Science in New York City. Many of our students work
supporting the financial industry, for example, Our graduates work as programmers
and software engineers, as well as in organizations that support the IT infrastructure
that is maintained by major NY businesses. Some of our graduates also decide to
pursue PhD degrees in Computer Science.